Ryan Pontbriand

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Cleveland Browns
currentnumber=64
currentposition=Long snapper
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|10|1
birthplace=Houston, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=255
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Cleveland Browns
highlights=
* 1x Pro Bowl selection (2007)
college=Rice
draftyear=2003
draftround=5
draftpick=142
pastteams=
* Cleveland Browns (2003-present)
nfl=PON708299

Ryan David Pontbriandcite web|url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/player.php?id=238|title=Cleveland Browns – Players – Ryan Pontbriand|accessdate=2007-04-30] (born October 1, 1979 in Houston, Texas) is an American football long snapper and center who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League; he wears the number 64. Pontbriand played collegiately at Rice University, and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Browns. Ryan has the distinction of being the highest-drafted long snapper in the history of the NFL Draft.cite web|url=http://riceowls.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kidd_steve00.html|title=Player Bio – Steve Kidd – Football|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Career

High school

Pontbriand attended Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, where he was a three-year letterman and a full-time starter on the football team's offensive line. He was a first-team all-district selection as a senior after receiving an honorable mention as a junior, and was named his team's offensive lineman of the year during his senior year and was his team's co-captain.

College

Ryan graduated high school and attended Rice University, redshirting his first year of eligibility in 1998. While at Rice, Pontbriand was the team's long snapper, and graduated from Rice having received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.

NFL

After finishing his fifth year at Rice, Pontbriand was eligible for the NFL Draft. In the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft, Ryan was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 142nd overall pick.cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/years/2003|title=Draft History – 2003|accessdate=2007-04-30] With the selection, the Browns gave Pontbriand the distinction of being the highest-drafted long snapper in the history of the draft, and is one of only twelve long snappers drafted since 1982. [cite news|author=Camille Powell|title=Sometimes the Best Can be Overlooked|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042702024.html|work=Washington Post|publisher=The Washington Post Company|date=April 28, 2007|accessdate=2007-04-30] Since being drafted, Pontbriand has missed only five games, which occurred during the 2005 season due to a back injury. In 2008, Pontbriand was named to his first Pro Bowl.

Career statistics

References